Slide mechanism for portable electronic device

ABSTRACT

A slide mechanism used in a mobile device includes a main plate, a slide plate, at least one undeformable slider, and at least one guide. The slide plate is installed on the main plate and slidable relative to the main plate. The slider is securely attached to the slide plate, and the guide is securely attached to the main plate, deformably moving the slider along. When the slide plate slides along the main plate, the slider compresses the guide, thereby generating deformation of the guide and sliding the slide plate along the main plate.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The disclosure generally relates to portable electronic devices, and,particularly, to a sliding mechanism of a portable electronic device.

2. Description of Related Art

Sliding-cover portable electronic devices are currently a popular choicefor portable electronic device design. The sliding-cover portableelectronic device has two nested housings, which move apart to open theportable electronic device.

A slide mechanism is generally used in such devices, driving themovement between the two housings. However, the slide mechanism istypically complex in structure and difficult to assemble, resulting inincreased production costs.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic assembled view of a portable electronic device inan open position;

FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded view of a slide mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a slide base portion;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the slide mechanism of FIG. 2 in an openposition;

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4, but shows movement from open to closedposition;

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 4, but shows a closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an exemplary embodiment of a slide mechanism 100 usedin a mobile device 300. The mobile device 300 includes a first housing50 engaging a second housing 60.

The slide mechanism 100 includes a main plate 10, a slide plate 20, twoguides 30 fixed to the main plate 10, and two sliders 40 fixed to theslide plate 20. The slide plate 20 and the main plate 10 arerespectively fixed to the second housing 60 and the first housing 50.The sliders 40 slide along the guides 30, sliding the slide plate 20relative to the main plate 10.

The main plate 10 includes a main base portion 11 and two rail portions12. The rail portions 12 are generally L-shaped and respectively formedon two opposite sides of the main base portion 11. The slide plate 20 isshorter than the main plate 10. The slide plate 20 includes a slide baseportion 21 and two slide parts 22. Four locking holes 211 arerespectively defined in four corners of the slide base portion 21. Theslide base portion 21 defines two locking posts 212 (shown in FIG. 3)thereon. The two slide parts 22 are generally U-shaped bars, each ofwhich defines a slide groove 221 corresponding to one of the two railportions 12. Each slide part 22 defines two protruding portions 222corresponding to the locking holes 211.

Each guide 30 has a guide portion 31 and two fixing portions 33. Theguide portion 31 is a curved, elastically deformable sheet. The twofixing portions 33 are respectively formed on two opposite ends of theguide portion 31. The two fixing portions 33 fix (for example, byhot-melting) the guide 30 to the main base portion 11.

Each slider 40 includes two curved slide portions 41. Each of the curvedslide portions 41 has two legs bent perpendicular, with the end of eachleg terminating in a ring-shaped latching portion 42. The curved slideportions 41 are the same length and the latching portions 42 alignedwith each other. The latching portions 42 securely engage the lockingposts 212 to fix the sliders 40 on the slide base portion 21.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the slide mechanism 100 is assembled, theguides 30 are fixed on the main plate 10 by the two fixing portions 33.The two guide portions 31 are systematically arranged on a surface ofthe main base portion 11. A distance between the guide portions 31perpendicular to arrow line A is initially decreased along a directionof the arrow line A, minimized at the middle of the guide portions 31,and then increased further in the direction of the arrow line A. Thesliders 40 are systematically arranged on a surface of the slide baseportion 21 by engagement of the latching portions 42 with the lockingposts 212. The protruding portions 222 are inserted into the lockingholes 211 to fix the slide parts 22 on the same side of the slide baseportion 21. The slide plate 20 covers a part of the main plate 10 and isimpelled along the rail portions 12 by the sliding of the slide parts22. The rail portions 12 are linearly and slidably received in the slidegrooves 221. The guides 30 and the sliders 40 are positioned between theslide plate 20 and the main plate 10. The sliders 40 face the guides 30.The slide portions 41 engage the guide portions 31 when no compressionis generated between the slide portions 41 and the guide portions 31.The sliders 40 are positioned between the guides 30. At this time, theguide portions 31 and the slide portions 41 are in their originalpositions. The slide mechanism 100 is open, as is the mobile device 300,correspondingly.

Referring to FIG. 6, the slide mechanism 100 is closed, as is theportable electronic device 300, correspondingly. The slide portions 41engage the guide portions 31 when no compression is generatedtherebetween.

Referring back to FIG. 5, when the slide mechanism 100 is moved fromopen to closed position, the slide plate 20 slides along the main plate10 by external force in the direction of the arrow line A. During thisstage, the slide portions 41 compress the guide portions 31. When theslide portions 41 reach the middle of the guide portions 31, the guideportions 31 are maximally deformed thereby. The slide plate 20 canfurther automatically slide in the direction of the arrow line A to theclosed position by allowing the guide portions 31 to return to theiroriginal states.

It is to be understood that slide mechanism 100 may include only oneslider, rather than the two sliders 40 as disclosed, with only one guideaccordingly corresponding thereto.

It is to be understood, however, that even through numerouscharacteristics and advantages of the present invention have been setforth in the foregoing description, together with details of thestructure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrativeonly, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape,size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention tothe full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms inwhich the appended claims are expressed.

1. A slide mechanism, comprising: a main plate; a slide plate installedon the main plate and slidable relative to the main plate; anundeformable first slider securely attached to the slide plate; and afirst guide securely attached to the main plate, deformable by forceapplied thereto by the first slider; wherein when the slide plate slidesalong the main plate, the first slider compresses and deforms the firstguide, thereby sliding the slide plate along the main plate.
 2. Theslide mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slide mechanismfurther comprises a second guide and an undeformable second slidercorresponding to the second guide, both securely attached to the mainplate.
 3. The slide mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein: the firstslider and the second slider comprise slide portions; and the firstguide and the second guide comprise elastic guide portions, imposingdeformation thereon by pressure exerted thereon and thus moving thefirst slider and the second slider therealong.
 4. The slide mechanism asclaimed in claim 3, wherein each slide portion is right-angled and theguide portions are curved.
 5. The slide mechanism as claimed in claim 2,wherein the first slider and the second slider further comprise securingportions securing the first slider and the second slider to the slideplate, and the first guide and the second guide further comprise fixingportions fixing the first guide and the second guide to the main plate.6. A portable electronic device, comprising: a first housing; a secondhousing slidably installed on the first housing; a slide mechanism,comprising: a main plate; a slide plate installed on the main plate andslidable relative to the main plate; an undeformable first slidersecurely attached to the slide plate; and a first guide securelyattached to the main plate, deformable by force applied thereto by thefirst slider; wherein when the second housing slides relative to thefirst housing, the slide plate slides along the main plate, the firstslider compresses the first guide, generating deformation thereof andsliding the second housing relative to the first housing.
 7. Theportable electronic device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the slidemechanism further comprises a second guide and an undeformable secondslider corresponding to the second guide, both securely attached to themain plate.
 8. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 7,wherein: the first slider and the second slider comprise slide portions;and the first guide and the second guide comprise elastic guideportions, imposing deformation thereon by pressure exerted thereon andthus moving the first slider and the second slider therealong.
 9. Theportable electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein each slideportion is a right-angled, and the guide portions are curved.
 10. Theportable electronic device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the firstslider and the second slider further comprise securing portions securingthe first slider and the second slider to the slide plate, and the firstguide and the second guide further comprise fixing portions fixing thefirst guide and the second guide to the main plate.